How would you feel if the house next door turned into a hotel? Imagine having strangers in your neighborhood all the time, slamming car doors, staying up late and blocking your driveway.

That’s the potential outcome of two bills being considered in Lansing that would treat all short-term rentals as a permitted, unregulated use in any residential zone regardless of local zoning regulations.

These bills are aimed at making it easier for people in tourist areas to rent properties to visitors.

Right now your local government controls zoning and that’s as it should be. Local officials and their residents are best able to judge what’s right for their community. These bills would take away that local control.

They could allow all landlords of to avoid inspections of their properties. They’d pave the way for uncontrolled rooming houses and could drive up prices, reducing the supply of homes for permanent residents.

Maybe short-term rentals are right for your community, but that decision should be left to the people most affected: Local residents.

The Legislature should not be functioning as a statewide zoning commission. Contact your state senator and representative to oppose House Bill 4503 and Senate Bill 379.